Jack Milner
Punters are faced with a tough card at Fairview on Friday when they race on the Polytrack, but that usually means there is a lot of value to be had on the card if one can catch it right.
The first is Prince Vihaan who lines up in Race 6, a MR 84 Handicap over 1400m.
In handicaps it can sometimes pay to look for a runner who is improving or has recently run well above his handicap rating. This Lunga Gila-trained four-year-old gelding fits those criteria, in a sense.
Prince Vihaan certainly ran well above his merit rating of 75 when beating Ferrari Ice on the turf over 1600m at this course in March.
The terms of that race allow for only a six-point penalty so that is what he received. In theory he should have received a much larger penalty as that rival is a 102-rated gelding. Prince Vihaan did not repeat that level against a similar field next time out but the key this time could be his return to the Polytrack.
This gelding won two nice races at the end of 2022 on the Greyville Polytrack over 1400m.This is a tough race though and there are many in with a winning chance.
A race later in a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m, Travel Master can do the job for us.
Trainer Alan Greeff has his runners firing at the moment and this particular gelding has been threatening another win.
The Fairview Polytrack 1200m suits him well and if jockey Richard Fourie can get him well placed from a wide draw, he can finish off the race.
Trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen has let us down of late but we can recoup those losses if Beckoning Beauty can win Race 8, a MR 74 Handicap over 1000m.
This What A Winter mare has always been at her best on the Polytrack so her last run on the turf behind Cliff Top is best ignored.
It is worth noting Oosthuizen has given the ride to talented JP van der Merwe and this mare can make all the running if back to her best.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Waz Wouter, 7 Move On Over, 8 Swiftwinged, 5 Almost In Seattle
Race 2: 3 Ponderosa Pine, 6 Brazilian Storm, 9 Salient Point, 4 Dream Star
Race 3: 8 You Know Who, 3 Safari Blue, 2 Ferrari Ice, 4 Bold Resolve
Race 4: Maiden's Cove, Soft Touch, Sugarberry, Aerial View, Hey Siri
Race 5: 4 American Dream, 3 Almighwaar, 2 My Boy Reecey, 5 Douglas Devastator
Race 6: 7 Prince Vihaan, 10 Silver Tycoon, 4 Alingalonga, 2 Moon Game
Race 7: 7 Travel Master, 2 No Time Is Taken, 11 Mr Bodacious, 13 Spanish Fort
Race 8: 3 Caitlyns Boy, 2 Beckoning Beauty, 4 Uncle Ticky Bird, 1 Queen's Wood
BEST BET
Race 5 No 4 American Dream
VALUE BET
Race 3 No 8 You Know Who
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 4x7
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 4, 7
Leg 2: 3, 4, 6, 9
Leg 3: 2, 3, 8
Leg 4: 3, 5, 9
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 3, 6, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 8
Leg 3: 5, 9
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 4, 7, 10
Leg 6: 2, 7, 11
Leg 7: 2, 3
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 9
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11
Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4
JACKPOT 1
R144
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 9
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13
JACKPOT 2
R108
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4